Posted on: Wednesday, May 4, 2005
WAC drops certification rule
| • | Instant replay approved |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
An academic certification rule that resulted in a one-game suspension for Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang in 2003, and cost the UH football team two players in the 2003 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, was rescinded yesterday by the Western Athletic Conference Council.
The so-called six-credit rule had required schools to certify that their athletes had passed at least six units in the previous grading period to be eligible for postseason play.
In its place, the WAC said it will follow a new, more lenient NCAA rule that will, in effect, not require UH to certify its football players for bowl games this season. The new rule gives schools 14 business days from the close of finals to certify their players.
Since finals end Dec. 16 for the fall 2005 semester, UH wouldn't be required to certify its players until Jan. 5 — the day after the Bowl Championship Series national championship game.
"Except for Louisiana Tech, which is on the quarter system, it is unlikely that any of our other schools will be required to certify (this football season)," said Karl Benson, WAC commissioner.
Benson said the "combination of logistics and the (wish) to have a level playing field," led the council, which is composed of conference athletic directors, faculty representatives and senior women's administrators, to rescind the rule.
The conference had twice previously voted against changing the rule, but took a longer look at it this year after the NCAA came up with the 14-day provision.
The original six-credit rule, which was intended to deter players from "blowing off" their final semester of classes, has been used by several conferences, including the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference. It was adopted by the WAC in the summer of 2002.
When UH failed to certify its roster before the 2002 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl — despite being told by the conference it could request a waiver — the school was given a public reprimand and fined $5,000 by the presidents and chancellors who make up the WAC Board of Directors.
Chang, who played in the loss to Tulane despite carrying unfinished school work, was suspended by the NCAA for the 2003 season opener against Appalachian State. Chang had said he received extensions from his professors to complete the work.
Coach June Jones then briefly threatened to hold his team out of the 2003 Hawai'i Bowl if all his players couldn't be certified in time. UH completed the certification process well in advance of the Christmas Day game and declared two players academically ineligible. UH won the game, 54-48, over Houston in three overtimes.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
